La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § VII-2505

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 12, December 20, 2024

Section VII-2505 - General Information

A. Cheese manufacturing plants that manufacture, process, cut, slice or package cheese shall conform with all of the basic requirements for cheese manufacturing plants contained in this Part and with the following additional requirements.

1. All cheese and cheese related products shall conform to the standards of identity prescribed by this Part.

2. Written, detailed plans describing the processing of each product shall be submitted to the state health officer for approval prior to manufacture of each product and prior to any product process change.

3. The words "made from unpasteurized milk" shall be prominently displayed on the principal display panel of each container of cheese and cheese related products made from milk in which each particle has not been pasteurized, ultra-pasteurized or aseptically processed in a manner that conforms with the requirements for pasteurization contained in this Part.

4. All containers and packages enclosing cheese and cheese related products shall be labeled in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as amended, the State Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law (R.S. 40:601, et seq.), the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, as amended, and the regulations developed thereunder and the requirements for labeling contained in this Part.

5. Whey disposal or use shall conform the following:

a. adequate sanitary facilities shall be provided for the handling and disposal of whey. Necessary precautions shall be taken to minimize flies, insects and objectionable odors;

b. whey or whey products to be used for human food shall be handled in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Part; and

c. whey or whey products to be used as or in Grade A products shall be produced in a cheese manufacturing plant that complies with all applicable requirements for dairy plants that produce Grade A pasteurized, ultra-pasteurized and aseptically processed products contained in Chapter 9. All such whey shall be derived from cheese produced from Grade A raw milk for pasteurization;

6. Cooling of milk and dairy products shall conform with the following:

a. all Grade A raw milk or heat treated products shall be received at 7 ° C (45 ° F) or less and maintained at or below that temperature until processed;

b. all manufacturing grade raw milk (milk for manufacturing purposes) shall not exceed 10 ° C (50 ° F) upon delivery to the dairy plant unless it is delivered to the dairy plant in less than four hours after milking. It shall be cooled immediately upon receipt to 7 ° C (45 ° F) or below and maintained at or below that temperature until processed;

c. whey and whey products in balance (constant level) tanks or hot wells may be allowed to remain at temperatures above 7 ° C (45 ° F) and below 66 ° C (150 ° F) for a period not to exceed four hours of operation provided:

i. when foam is present on the product, the temperature of the foam shall be considered the temperature of the product;

ii. the balance tank or hot well shall be emptied, cleaned and sanitized at least once each four hours of operation; and

iii. dairy products in balance tanks or hot wells at temperatures below 7E C (45 ° F) or above 66 ° C (150 ° F) or above are exempt from this requirement;

d. all pasteurized dairy products, except those to be cultured, shall be cooled immediately after pasteurization in approved equipment, to a temperature of 7 ° C (45 ° F) or less and stored at a temperature of 7 ° C (45 ° F) or less;

e. the temperature of milk or dairy products in delivery vehicles shall not exceed 7 ° C (45 ° F);

f. every room or tank in which dairy products are stored shall be equipped with an approved thermometer;

g. aseptically processed dairy products to be packaged in hermetically sealed containers shall be exempt from the cooling requirement for this item; and,

h. re-circulated water which is used in coolers and exchangers, including systems in which a freezing point depressant is used shall be from a safe source and protected from contamination. Such water shall be tested at the minimum frequencies specified in §2117 of this Part and shall otherwise comply with the requirements of §2117 of this Part. Freezing point depressants, when used, shall be non toxic.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § VII-2505

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 37:2713 (September 2011).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:4(A)(1)(a). Also see R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(5)(7)(15)(17) and R.S. 40:922.